Value of lower-limb short latency somatosensory evoked potentials in predicting early death in patients with massive cerebral infarction

• Published in: Nan fang yi ke da xue xue bao = Journal of Southern Medical University Vol. 29; no. 5; p. 1036
• Main Authors: Zheng, Wei-cheng, Pan, Su-yue, Lin, Zheng-hao, Wu, Yong-ming, Ji, Zhong, Liu, Li-fang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: China 01.05.2009
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Brain Death - diagnosis; Brain Death - physiopathology; Brain Infarction - physiopathology; Brain Infarction - therapy; Critical Care; Early Diagnosis; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; Female; Glasgow Coma Scale; Humans; Lower Extremity; Male; Middle Aged
• ISSN: 1673-4254

To explore the value of lower-limb short latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SLSEP) in predicting early death in patients with massive cerebral infarction. Forty-eight patients of massive cerebral infarction were admitted in the Neurological Intensive Care Unit (NICU) between March 2008 and March 2009, and Glasgow-Pittsburgh coma scale (GPCS) and SLSEP were recorded and graded within 24 h after admission. The patients were divided into survival and death groups (including brain death) according to their short-term prognosis. The correlations of SLSEP and GPCS to the mortality were assessed. A significant correlation was found between SLSEP and the mortality in patients with massive cerebral infarction (r=0.484, P<0.001). The positive predictive value of the SLSEP grade 3 to death was 100%, and the patients with malignant middle cerebral artery infarction (mMCAI) appeared to have a 100% mortality. SLSEP grade 3 can be a highly specificity in predicting early death in patients with massive cerebral infarct